Book Review & Giveaway: Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks

Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks

Publisher: Amazon Kindle Editions (originally Five Star in Hardcover)

Publish Date: November 14, 2007

289 pages
Contemporary Romance

My Review:
Why I read this: The author contacted me, I enjoy racing and thought a romance set in the racing world sounded like a winner to me.

How is the novel driven: It's a romance, so it's primarily character-driven, but there are some other good plot things going on as well - you have to have some sort of conflict :)

My thoughts:  First up I will confess I am a NASCAR junkie.  This book takes place in the drag racing world.  Do you need to have a knowledge of any type of racing to understand or like this book.  No, absolutely not.  Will you like it if you do have an interest in the racing world, yes, sure.  I know little about Drag Racing, it is completely different from NASCAR, but I was never lost in this book.  The main thing to realize is no matter what the type of racing it is - it's still a man's sport (and yes I do know Danica Patrick races Indy, but she is an exception) and that is the key to this book.

Sarah is a tomboy - she's grown up in her dad's racing shop and she drag races everytime she gets a chance.  She's also been in love with her best friend and fellow racer Craig for forever, she's just waiting for him to notice her as well.  Then comes the proverbial monkey wrench (I know poor pun), and he comes in the form of handsome Gordon who is helping out at her dad's shop.  When Sarah turns to Gordon for advice on how to be more desirable to a man, she suddenly isn't sure where she stands anymore on who she is attracted to.

Then the story progresses and I don't want to give anything away.  I will say the story is well-paced.  The sexual tension is perfect, you never quite figure out which man she really wants as she can't figure it out.  There is some great racing action and great character-development on the part of the three main characters.  It was really a joy to watch develop.  This is a great romance and I look forward to reading more of Christina's books in the future.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:

Sarah's a whiz at tuning engines and winning races. Winning Craig, the local drag race hero, proves more difficult. He only has eyes for gorgeous women who are hot in the sack, not grubby tomboys. Sarah’s world gets an overhaul when her father hires Gordon. Soon she’s torn not only between two men she wants, but between the drag race winner she is and the woman she feels pressured to become.
About the Author (from Goodreads):

Christina Crooks lives in Portland, Oregon. She has a bachelor's degree in English literature and is a member of Romance Writers of America. Visit her at her website or on Facebook.

Hands On is available as a Kindle pre-order here.
Thrill of the Chase is available as a Kindle edition here.
L.A. Caveman is available as a Kindle edition here.

Giveaway:

Christina has generously offered 1 signed copy of the hardcover version of Thrill of the Chase for giveaway.  Simply comment to enter.  Extra entries for following (RSS, GFC, email, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and for tweeting/blog posts/sidebars (1/day for the tweet).  All entries can be placed in one comment if you would like, and add additional comments for tweets.  Open to US/Canada, ends 11/17.

FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

What are you Reading Monday - November 8

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Week 

• Cate and the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein (review)
• Calico Pennants by David A. Ross (review)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (library) 
• Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks (review)

Reading Now:

• Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton (audiobook - listen while walking)
• First Family by David Baldacci (audiobook in car)
• Last Exit in New Jersey by C.E. Grundler

Next:

• Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater
• The Black Madonna by Davis Bunn (review)
•  It's No Secret by Rachel Olsen
• When No One is Watching by Joseph Hayes
• Dismissed with Prejudice by Fletcher Cockrell
• The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
• Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
• Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund

Reviews completed this week (books read before this week):

• Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young
• Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin  
• Slayed by Amanda Marrone 
• Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway (library) 

Other books still need to review:

• Wings by Aprilynne Pike (library) 
• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (mine)  
• The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
• Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
• Matched by Ally Condie (review)
• Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook) 
• Evermore by Alyson Noel (library)  
• Spells by Aprylynne Pike (library) 
• Candor by Pam Bachorz
• The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan 
• Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
• Definitely Dead (audiobook)
• Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
• Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast (audiobook) 
• To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (audiobook in car)

Summary -

I spent a lot of my week in bed getting over some nasty cold-mess my dear sweet husband of 13-years (today) gave me.  You would think that would have allowed me a lot of reading time, but I really didn't feel like it.  One day I finished the current season of Project Runway and watched The Rocky Horror Glee show in between naps.  But I still had a good reading week and I think I'm finally getting over this mess only to learn that the stomach bug is going around the schools now.  Ugh - I hate stomach bugs!

Best of the week:  Tie between Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks - awesome romance and Cate and the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein because the Lost Colony is something that has been interesting to me since I was a child, since I live just down the NC coast. 

Book Review: Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Audrey Wait by Robin Benway

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: April 10, 2008

Hardcover, 320 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this: I've heard about this one on several blogs and got it from my local library.  I thought it would be a perfect read-a-thon book and I was right.

How is the novel driven: Character and plot, it's a lot about the events in Audrey's life, but it's also how she grows and changes.

My thoughts: In this day and age of the internet and paparazzi, Audrey, Wait is really not a far-fetched story.  It is an entertaining story.  Poor Audrey's life is turned upside down just because she breaks up with her boyfriend and he writes a song.  At first this is great - I mean what teenage girl wouldn't love being invited to the best parties, partying with rock stars and hooking up with rock stars.  But then she learns about the other side, where everything you do ends up on the internet and everyone is talking about you.

I loved Audrey, Wait!, it's a fun book and a great way to look at the teenage life in extreme and not-so-extreme circumstances.  I like how Audrey grows and changes and I also like how her parents are involved in her life.  It's just one of those feel good books by the end, but not in a cheesy way - it's completely entertaining, it has lessons and there is a lot of fun.  I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said.

The book reads fast, the characters are interesting and the situations are fun.  Ms. Benway has a great way about her writing and I look forward to reading more books by her.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!,” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!)

Audrey can’t hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

About the Author:

Robin Benway grew up in Orange County, California and attended college at both NYU & UCLA. At NYU, she won the Seth Barkas Prize for Best Fiction by an Undergraduate. She has worked at Ballantine, Knopf, Borders, and Book Soup in West Hollywood.

Robin currently lives in Santa Monica. To the best of her knowledge, no one has written a song about her. Yet.

Website

FTC Information: I received this book from my local library for my reading enjoyment.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publish Date: April 1, 2007

Hardcover, 244 pages
Middle Grades, Ages 9-12

My Review:
Why I read this: I read the 4th book in the series and was unimpressed, and not sure I wanted my son to read it.  But to be fair I wanted to read the series from the beginning and see how the character develops and understand the series better.

How is the novel driven: Plot, in short takes, it's like reading a bunch of comics.  It works great for kids (and adults) with short attention spans.  Each take is a different point in a several month period of Greg's life.

My thoughts: This is a really quick and funny read.  It kept me in stitches throughout the book and it felt very real to the middle school experience.  Middle school is a very tough time and I think this book brings quite a bit of humor to the experience.  Adults can remember this time of life and kids will see there is humor even when things seem hard.

I did not see anything disrespectful in this book that I thought I saw in the 4th book.  I will continue to read through the books and make my decision when I am through, but at this time I definitely feel the first book is a great for any middle gfrader to read, to show they are not alone and there is humor in this time of life.  I'm also a proponent of whatever gets a child to read and it doesn't harm them in any way let them read it.  I have always said if comics gets my child to read then so be it - it's still reading which is awesome.  Jeff Kinney does a great job mixing the comics with the book to make this a highly entertaining read.

I already have the second book coming to me from the library. 

My Rating: 4.25/5.0


About the Book:

Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.

Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day.
About the Author:

Jeff Kinney is an author of children's books including Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. Jeff was born in College Park, Maryland, in 1971 where he created a comic strip called "Igdoof."

Website

FTC Information: I received this book from my local library for my reading enjoyment, or simply to check up on what my kids read (really, no I didn't want to read or enjoy this one) ;).  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Slayed by Amanda Marrone

Slayed by Amanda Marrone

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: October 5, 2010

Paperback, 272 pages
Young Adult, Paranormal

My Review:
Why I read this: Loved the cover and the blurb sounded interesting.

How is the novel driven: Action with some character development.

My thoughts: I read this in one evening.  Pretty much one sitting, just a break to eat and play on the computer a bit.  This is a quick, light and easy read.  I really liked the three main characters, Daphne, Kiki, and Tyler.  It's a fun story of a girl that travels with her parents killing vampires and she never gets to settle down and have a normal teenage girls life.  That wonn't change when she reaches the coastal Maine town or will it?

Suddenly she has a best friend and a potential boyfriend.  The problem is the town is overrun with vampires that are stronger than what she is use to.

Lots of fun and laughs mixed in with the serious.  Yes the story is about the group coming in to take over the vampires, but it's more about Daphne and her desire for a normal childhood.  She has those typical in books, missing parents, ones that are more caught up in vampire hunting than raising their child.  This is pointed out more than once and you feel for Daphne.  But Daphne makes the best she can in her situation which she thinks improves with the introduction of Kiki and Tyler.

I loved Kiki, yes she has her own problems and her own absentee parents, but when given a situation to channel her energy she really shines.  And Tyler, that typical goth boy ends up completely different than first expected as well.

Full of action, laughs and character development, Slayed is a fun quick read.  Perfect for one of these cool autumn evenings.  I'm hoping to see more of the characters though the way it is tied up at the end I'm not sure we will.  Either way, I'm glad I spent an evening reading Slayed.  It's pure fun.

 

My Rating: 4.0/5.0


About the Book:

The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. All Daphne wants is to settle down in one place, attend an actual school, and finally find a BFF to go to the mall with. Instead, Daphne has resigned herself to a life of fast food, cheap motels and buying garlic in bulk.

But when the Van Helsings are called to a coastal town in Maine, Daphne’s world is turned upside down. Not only do the Van Helsings find themselves hunting a terrifying new kind of vampire (one without fangs but with a taste for kindergarten cuisine), Daphne meets her first potential BF! The hitch? Her new crush is none other than Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family.

What's a teen vampire slayer to do?

About the Author:

Amanda Marrone grew up on Long Island where she spent her time reading, drawing, watching insects, and suffering from an overactive imagination. She earned a BA in education at SUNY Cortland and taught fifth and sixth grade in New Hampshire. She now lives in Connecticut with her husband, Joe, and their two kids.

Website
Blog 


FTC Information: I received this book from Star Book Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Calico Pennants by David A. Ross

Calico Pennants by David A. Ross

Publisher: Open Books

Publish Date: May 2, 2009

Ebook
Fiction

My Review:
Why I read this: I was asked to review it by the publisher.  I found the storyline intriguing so I agreed. 

How is the novel driven: There is some action, but primarily this is about the characters.

My thoughts: This book is really hard to describe without giving anything away.  It's a lovely story of a Julian who is recently divorced, his child is grown and he has been pushed out of his job.  So he goes to stay at a friend's condo in Hawaii.  While there he purchases a boat and ends up shipwrecked.

The second part of the story involves Amelia Earhart and her around the world trip that ended in her being missing.  Through the story both end up on a magical island of sorts.

Calico Pennants is really interesting, though at times it moved slow, but as I stuck with it the story picked right back up.  I liked the tale of them on the island and especially loved the talking parrot.  His dialog is funny and thought-provoking.

As the stories of the two who are in separate times come together it's fascinating to watch.  My main complaint - the story is too short, I would have loved more.  That said, it does form a complete story in the time you have and it forms a very enjoyable story.  I love the magic of the island and Julian and Amie when they are there.  I like the lessons it teaches and I enjoyed the ending.

With beautiful language David A. Ross paints perfect pictures of the settings and the feelings of the characters and makes Calico Pennants a very enjoyable story.
 

My Rating: 4.0/5.0

See my interview with the author as well. 

About the Book:

A weekend sailor shipwrecked on a South Seas atoll discovers the island's only other human inhabitant - a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to 1930s lost flying ace Amelia Earhart.

First published in print edition under the title THE TROUBLE WITH PARADISE. The ebook edition, CALICO PENNANTS, is the author's updated and amended edition. 

About the Author (from his website):

David A. Ross was born January 6, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to his career as a novelist (Good Morning Corfu, 2009; Open Books; How High The Wall, 2008; Open Books; Sacrifice and the Sweet Life, 2003, Escape Media; A Winter Garden, 2003, Escape Media; Stones, 2001, Escape Media; Xenos, 1998, Escape Media; The Trouble With Paradise; 1997, Escape Media), he is a former columnist and contributing editor for Southwest Art Magazine (1984-1985). His first novel, The Trouble With Paradise, was awarded third prize in the 1997 National Writer's Association Novel Competition. David A. Ross lives on the Island of Corfu, Greece, where he is the editor of Corfu Magazine.

Website 
Publisher's website  
David on Facebook

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Author Interview: David A. Ross (Calico Pennants)

Please join me today in welcoming David A. Ross, the author of Calico Pennants.  Read on to learn more about the author and the book.  Later today I will post my review of Calico Pennants.  Thanks to David and Open Books for allowing me to read the review and have the interview.  

How did you celebrate when you found out your book Calico Pennants, would be published?

A: I don’t know that I did, but I remember getting the first royalties from it. The check was for twelve dollars. Which doesn’t sound like much, I know. But it was the first money I’d ever made from my fiction. That was twelve years ago; there have been a few larger checks since then.

How would you describe Calico Pennants to others?

A: Calico Pennants is basically a fantasy novel. It is about time, about its tenuous nature. It is also about how we perceive our environment. Calico Pennants takes place in a virtual paradise. Julian, the castaway, is even furnished with his ideal fantasy lover. Yet paradise is really only a state of mind, and what seems to be real is not always tangible. Then there is the element of randomness, which also plays a pretty big part in the novel: a curious message in a bottle, a Hawaiian kahuna, a ship with a curious record of breaking down at just the wrong moment, a parrot that seems to know more about what’s going on than the humans…

Where did the idea for Calico Pennants come from?

A: The idea struck me when, in 1997, I was spending a month in Hawaii. I kept hearing the hype, you know, about how it was paradise. But I could see that there was a bit of ‘trouble in paradise’ too. That was the original title of the book. Anyway, I wrote the first chapter of Calico Pennants in one of those guest books that B&B owners put in rooms for guests to sign. Ironically, after the book was published and in stores in Hawaii, the B&B owner wrote to me and told me how thrilled she was to have the ‘original’ manuscript of the first chapter, which I guess she did.

Did you plan Calico Pennants out or do you just write and see where it took you?

A: First I write then I plan. Then I write some more, then plan some more. By mid-novel, I have a working outline to which I pretty much stay true.

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?

A: I read quite a lot. Mostly unknown writers these days. There has been a long period where literary writers have had to remain in the background, so I think there is a build-up now of great literary work that few people have heard about. I mostly read novels, but I read nonfiction too. A great biography will always capture my attention—especially women behind the man sort of stuff.

What is your favorite room in your house?

A: I live in a very small apartment—40 square meters with three terrific balconies. The one off my living room is also my garden. I like to read and work there.

What is your favorite spot to read in?

A: Well, if not my balcony, then I guess the beach.

What is your favorite snack food?

A: That’s easy: chocolate and Beajolais.

What is your favorite season?

A: I live in Greece, so spring is glorious.

I am very jealous - it does sound beautiful there.

Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?

A: No schedule. I am a great believer in cogitation—especially the subconscious kind. I have learned to wait…and to wait…and to wait some more… And when the time is right, I know it. No writer’s block that way. When I work I usually put out ten to fifteen pages in a day.

Where do you do the majority of your writing?

A: In my head.

Did you find writing Calico Pennants to be difficult or did the book just take off with no problems?

A: If a book is giving the writer fits, it probably won’t be any good. The hardest thing to learn is to give up control and let it just come out. Because the really great stories do that; they literally write themselves. It is we who try to get in the way.

Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?

A: Always doing something. Social media makes everything possible. I have a radio interview coming up in February with R. Jeffries on blogtalk radio.

Do you have a new book in the works?

A: Ah, so happy you asked. Yes, I do. And it is my best work to date. In fact, I’d say it is the book I’ve been trying to write for 50 years. A writer is really lucky if such a thing happens to him. The book is called The Virtual Life of Fizzy Oceans and it will be out in early spring.

Anything else you would like to say?

A: Maybe I should end on a heavy. How about this? Literature is the foundation of any culture, so I hope writers think before they babble. Remember, you are defining the pathway upon which your fellow human beings will walk, how they will think, how they will treat one another, what is important and even what is real. Give it your best shot. 

Thanks so much for agreeing to do an interview with me

And thank you, Crystal!

  

***********Later today my review of Calico Pennants is coming.  Just a hint, it's a very exciting book.  I am thoroughly enjoying it.******************